Theological Comparison
A respectful, scripture-based comparison of Calvinism's five points (TULIP) and Provisionism's seven pillars (PROVIDE), with specific attention to the South African context.
| Calvinist TULIP | Provisionist PROVIDE |
|---|---|
| TTotal Depravity | PPeople Sin |
| UUnconditional Election | RResponsible |
| LLimited Atonement | OOpen Door |
| IIrresistible Grace | VVicarious Atonement |
| PPerseverance of the Saints | I/D/EIlluminating Grace, Destroyed, Eternal Security |
Click any row to see the detailed comparison below.
Calvinism — TULIP
Man is so corrupted by sin that he cannot respond to God. He must be regenerated (born again) before he can believe. Faith is the result of regeneration, not the condition for it.
Ephesians 2:1 — 'You were dead in your trespasses and sins'
Provisionism — PROVIDE
Man is fallen and sinful, but God's illuminating grace ensures that every person is capable of responding to the gospel. Mankind is unbelieving 'by their fault,' not 'by default.' God holds all people accountable — which implies they are able to respond.
Acts 17:30 — 'God now commands all men everywhere to repent'
The Key Question
Can a fallen person respond to God's call, or must God first regenerate them without their consent?
South African Context
In the DRC tradition, Total Depravity is used to argue that God must first regenerate a person before they can believe. But this creates a logical problem: if God only regenerates the elect, then the non-elect never had a genuine chance to respond. Provisionism asks: why does God command all people to repent (Acts 17:30) if they are incapable of doing so?